Meet Camilla

Hey! I’m Camilla Downs (pronounced like Pamela, but with a “C”). I was named after Camilla Sparv, a Swedish actress in the 1960’s and 70’s. I’m the great great grand-daughter of a full blooded Chickasaw Indian and Irish immigrants. When my great great grand-father left the Chickasaw tribe he took the name of Robert Downs.

I enjoy being connected with and in the company of others who are inspiring, authentic, mindful, and who spread loving-kindness. I’m kind of a shy person, yet, when I and another engage in deep, meaningful conversation; the shyness simply melts.

I’m deeply spiritual and this exudes from my blog posts and poetry. Every artistic creation I undertake has loving-kindness, peace, and oneness at its core. It is my goal to have anything I create come forth directly from the heart. I know when I begin to struggle for words or the “how” of the creation that I have left my heart and entered my mind.

Of great importance to me is ensuring that I “raise” two beings who live life from a place of loving-kindness and who retain peace and joy as they age. Beings who are grounded in the knowing of their given talents so as to share those talents for the benefit of others.

I single parent eleven year old Thomas and fifteen year old Lillian and parenthood is my work and art. Something within was awakened when these two joined me. Thomas and Lillian were the catalyst to opening my heart and sharing the message of love.

I began writing the book in June 2011 and the book was published in less than a year in May 2012. “D iz for Different” went on to become a best-selling book on Amazon in the categories of special needs parenting and self-help.

In the fall of 2016, I focused on creating and marketing Thomas’ book, “Biggest Little Photographer“; which was published in October 2016.

The writings in my book, on this blog, The Team TLC blog, facebook, and instagram have been and are culled directly from my life experiences. I openly share the ups and downs of my personal and family life.

In mid 2016 I began to write poetry inspired by the nature photographs I make. I share these first on instagram, then on facebook, and ultimately on this blog. I’m currently working with Lillian to create her first published book.

Lillian has a chromosome abnormality simply called 18p-. This means she is missing the short arm of chromosome #18. Fortunately, the evening the diagnosis was delivered in December 2004, I found an organization by the name of Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society. This group and all members are amazing.

We call ourselves Team TLC to correspond with the first letters of each of our names and we are seventeen months into a living-in-a-tiny-home adventure. In addition, we are an unschooling family. Thomas and Lillian focus on what interests each of them and learn about that topic. I act as a facilitator and provide assistance when asked or needed.

I am inspired by this place I chose as home in 2006 … Reno, Nevada. When he was seven years old Thomas summed it up with one beautifully inspired comment. “It’s like we are at an art show and nature keeps changing the art for us.”